8251 research outputs found
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Submission to the Business & Trade Committee Inquiry into the UK Small Business Strategy (2025)
No full text© 2025 UK Parliament. Written evidence submitted to the UK Pariliament Business & Trade Committee inquiry into the UK Small Business Strategy. Available online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9193/small-business-strategy/publications/written-evidence
Fracture-related hospitalisations in newly diagnosed high-risk localised or metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: secondary analysis of the STAMPEDE phase III trials of docetaxel and zoledronic acid using healthcare systems data
No full text© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2025.07.005Background
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), the mainstay systemic treatment for high risk non-metastatic (M0) and metastatic (M1) prostate cancer is associated with bone loss and increased fracture risk. The STAMPEDE trial tested the addition of zoledronic acid (ZA) ± docetaxel (with prednisolone) to ADT. Both regimens may impact bone health. However, long-term fracture incidence remains uncertain.
Patients and methods
Health systems data were obtained for patients recruited from England and randomised to standard-of-care (SOC) ADT compared with SOC plus ZA or docetaxel or both docetaxel and ZA. ICD10 diagnosis and OPCS procedure codes from inpatient hospital admissions were used to identify fracture-related hospitalisations. Flexible parametric competing risks models were used to estimate 5- and 10-year cumulative incidence and sub-distribution hazard ratios (SDHR).
Results
2140 of 2705 (79%) patients recruited from trial sites in England were eligible for this secondary analysis. Linked data were available for 2042/2140 (96%) pts (734 M0, 1308 M1). 5-year cumulative incidence of fracture for M0 and M1 patients treated with SOC only was 11% [95% confidence interval (CI), 8% to 15%] and 23% (95% CI, 19% to 28%), respectively. 10-year cumulative incidence in M0 patients was 26% (95% CI, 20% to 33%). Allocation to ZA significantly reduced the risk of fracture in M1 patients (SDHR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55-0.97; P = 0.015) but not M0 patients (SDHR 0.88, 95% CI 0.59-1.32; P = 0.549). Docetaxel had no clear effect on the risk of fracture in M0 (P = 0.570) or M1 (P = 0.264) patients.
Conclusions
High cumulative incidence of fracture was observed in both M0 and M1 prostate cancer patients receiving ADT. The addition of ZA to ADT ± docetaxel significantly reduced long-term fracture risk in M1 participants but had no clear effect in M0 disease. These data support the use of bone protective agents to reduce fracture risk in men with M1 prostate cancer undergoing ADT.This work was supported by Cancer Research UK’s Clinical Research Committee (formerly the Clinical Trials Advisory Awards Committee [Grant C547/A3804]) with educational grants from Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer, Janssen Pharma NV, Astellas and Clovis Oncology. Sanofi-Aventis, Janssen and Novartis provided free drugs for the conduct of the trials included in this study. Additional support for the trial has been provided by the core funding that the MRC Clinical Trials Unit receive from the UKRI Medical Research Council [Grants MC_UU_0004/01; MC_UU_0004/02; MC_UU_12023/25; MC_UU_12023/28]. These analyses were funded by a Prostate Cancer Foundation-John Black Charitable Foundation Young Investigator Award (22YOUN25, AS) and Movember-Prostate Cancer UK FASTMAN Centre of Excellence Award (MA-COE18-002, NWC).Published versio
Additive manufacturing of triply periodic minimal surface informed load bearing stiffness matched tibial bone scaffold
Get PDFA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.This thesis investigates the development of titanium scaffolds based on Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structures to create bone implants that effectively match the mechanical properties of the tibia. The primary goal is to design and fabricate titanium (Ti6Al4V) scaffolds that provide optimal load-bearing capacity while closely matching the stiffness of the host bone, thereby promoting better integration and reducing the risk of implant failure. TPMS structures are selected due to their unique geometrical properties, which offer a high surface area to volume ratio and excellent mechanical performance. These characteristics are crucial for bone scaffolds, as they can enhance osseointegration and provide sufficient mechanical support. The research employs advanced additive manufacturing techniques, specifically Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF), to produce complex TPMS geometries with precise control over porosity and mechanical properties. The surrogate model developed in this thesis can be used-defined to generate scaffold with targeted stiffness to match the host bone. Manufacturers and research institutions can utilise the validated methodology presented in this thesis to enhance and create alternative prototypes for advancing developments in the field of meta-biomaterials
Trust and FinTech: A review and research agenda
No full text© 2025 The Authors, published by Springer. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-025-00803-wThe primary objective of this paper is to formulate a detailed research agenda focussed on trust in the context of FinTech. To achieve this objective, conceptualisations of trust and related constructs are reviewed, and a detailed model of trust is developed. The domain of FinTech is then introduced and is taken to include current and emerging innovations in financial services incorporating aspects of big data and AI, as well as open and decentralised finance and crypto assets. Typologies of FinTech services are also explored. Arguments concerning the importance of trust in financial services are then reviewed, along with prior studies of trust in the context of financial services. Nascent research into trust and FinTech is emerging, but many important questions remain, such as (a) to what degree are traditional definitions and conceptualisations of trust germane to aspects of FinTech and what adaptations or additional factors may be beneficial? (b) from both the trustor’s and trustee’s perspective, what are the relevant objects of dependence that form the focus of the trust relationship in the context of FinTech? (c) are views on the importance of trust consistent across elements of the FinTech domain including big data and AI and open, decentralised, and crypto finance? (d) how best to measure and evaluate levels of trust in FinTech? (e) what are the antecedents and consequences of trust in FinTech and other related questions? Thus, a comprehensive and nuanced exposition of trust and its impact in relation to the gamut of activities encompassed under the FinTech moniker would add significantly to collective understanding.Open access funding provided by University of the Free State
Influence of tube arrangement and core types on the crushing performance of core-filled nested and adjoined structures
No full textThis is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published by Springer on 19/11/2025, available online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-025-16921-w
For re-use please see Springer's terms and conditions.This study investigates the influence of tube arrangement and core filling on the crashworthiness performance of three tube architectures namely nested (NRT and NST), single (SingleT) and adjoined (ART). Experimental and numerical analyses, along with a Random Forest machine learning model, were employed to investigate their response under crushing conditions. Unfilled NRT and NST tubes demonstrated notably higher mean crushing load (MCL) and crushing load ratio (CLR) compared to SingleT and ART, with increases of 69.8% and 17.14% for MCL and 85.55% and 60.77% for CLR, respectively. The Entropy-EDAS method highlighted NST1 as the most effective unfilled design. For core-filled tubes, the crashworthiness was governed by a combination of tube arrangement, cross-sectional geometry and core filling. However, in unfilled samples, only the tube arrangement and cross-section played a significant role in the crash behavior. Among the core-filled samples, ART structures exhibited superior improvements in CLR and crushing behavior compared to their unfilled counterparts, with perpendicular arrangements showing the most significant enhancement. The specific energy absorption (SEA) of ART1(FEA) and ART2(FEA) core-filled tubes surpassed their unfilled counterparts by approximately 26.84% and 40.36%, respectively. Furthermore, core type 2 (C2) consistently outperformed core type 1 (C1), with ART2(FEA)_C2 showing a 12–14% improvement in crashworthiness metrics. The integration of materials with varying Young’s moduli, such as combining ART tubes with ABS cores, was found to significantly enhance crashworthiness, particularly when the tubes were arranged perpendicularly.Published onlin
Which side are you on boys? Revisiting the history of British coal miners and the strike of 1984/5
No full textThis is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published by OUP on 10/11/2025, available online: https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/ceaf194
The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version.The year 2025 marks the fortieth anniversary of the end of the bitter twelve-month miners’ strike of 1984/5. The dominance of coal in British energy production from the 1880s to the 1980s also came to an end in 2024 with the announced closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in the East Midlands. Yet the centrality of coal, miners, their trade unionism and their communities to the nation continues to cast a long shadow over Britain’s twentieth-century history and the political dramas of the present. Post-coal communities and some former miners provided significant support to the cause of Brexit, the referendum of 2016 and the general election of 2019, which saw a number of ‘Red Wall’ seats, in what were once solid Labour constituencies, deliver a significant victory to the Conservative Party. The plight of post-coal localities continues to feature in contemporary political discourse, with a range of parties claiming to represent the concerns of those who have been seemingly marginalised and left behind. In the light of these developments, historians have returned to the British coal industry through major research projects and the publication of a range of books and articles. The renewed interest in coal miners has also found its way into films, television dramas, novels, musicals and photography exhibitions. This article revisits the industry through a critical appraisal of four books that both reinforce and challenge familiar framings of miners, their trade unions and communities, and interpretations of the 1984/5 strike
Understanding the new risks in the digital transition of maritime port’s energy infrastructures: a scoping review
No full textA scoping review produced by the University of Wolverhampton, UK in collaboration with Moi University, Kenya, and THOST Project Management Netherlands. This report was commissioned by the Lloyds Register Foundation.The increasing digitalisation of maritime port energy infrastructure has transformed global trade and supply chains, enhancing operations and energy management. However, this transition also introduces significant risks, particularly in the realms of cybersecurity, infrastructure resilience, and regulatory inconsistencies. Maritime ports play a critical role in energy distribution, supporting the global economy by transporting fossil fuels, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and renewable energy sources. The digital transformation of these infrastructures is essential for optimising operations and reducing environmental impact, yet it also exposes ports to new vulnerabilities.
Given the strategic importance of ports in global trade and energy logistics, their increasing dependence on digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and automation, has heightened concerns regarding cyber threats and infrastructure security. Recent cyber incidents, including attacks on critical energy assets and maritime infrastructure, underscore the need to address these risks with urgency. The rapid expansion of digitalisation in ports highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding of emerging vulnerabilities, particularly in underwater and seabed energy infrastructure.
This scoping review was commissioned by the Lloyds Register Foundation to the University of Wolverhampton, UK, Moi University, Kenya, and THOST Project Management Netherlands to examine the digital transition of critical energy infrastructure in maritime ports, with a focus on the Port of Southampton in the United Kingdom and the Port of Mombasa in Kenya. The primary objective of the scoping review is to establish the current state of digitalisation in critical energy infrastructure in maritime ports. The findings from this review contribute to a broader understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with the digital transition in Maritime ports.Lloyds Register Foundation
Generation of sustainable active food packaging materials from agricultural wastes
No full textA thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton.Introduction: The non-degradability of plastic food packaging materials and associated environmental challenges motivated interests in the search for alternative food packaging materials that are biodegradable and/or environmentally friendly.
Aim: This project investigated the utility of cassava waste (cassava peel) in producing sustainable active food packing materials using various plasticisers as well as the effects of supplementation of cassava peel starch-based films with plant extract and essential oil on film’s physical, optical, chemical, and functional characteristics.
Results: Significant amount of starch was extracted from cassava peels (19.7%, P<0.05) with higher cyanide content (3.4-fold, P<0.001) compared to cassava pulp starch. Cassava peel starch had higher amylose content (30.0±1.7%, w/w) compared with starch from cassava pulp (18.7±0.9%w/w), corn (24.0±1.5% w/w) or potato (18.7±1.2%% w/w). Cassava peel starch-based films made with glycerol (0.22±0.00mm - 0.27±0.02mm ) and maltitol (0.23±0.03mm – 0.28±0.01mm) had similar thickness but films made with invert sugar were thinner (0.08±0.01mm and 0.11±0.00mm). A similar trend was observed for cassava starch-based films and control films made with potato and corn starch. Burst force of starch-based films reduced as the concentration plasticisers increases (15 – 40%w/w, irrespective of the plasticiser used) with cassava peel starch-based films having lower burst force (201.7±25.8 – 2585.0±177.0 for films made with glycerol, 45.9±6.9 – 2119.0±172.5 for films made with maltitol, and 89.9±19.0 – 743.3±26.9 for films made with invert sugar). A similar trend was observed for films made with cassava peel starch. The percentage of water-soluble materials in starch-based films increases with increasing plasticiser concentrations, irrespective of the type of starch or plasticiser used. For cassava peel starch films, this ranged from 37.64±1.77 - 47.06±2.84% glycerol films, 25.83±2.18 - 35.03±1.64% for maltitol films, and 16.03±0.95 - 48.35±4.11% for invert sugar films. Water absorption capacity of starch-based films also reduced as the concentration of plasticiser increased irrespective of the source of starch or the type of plasticiser used. Screening conducted revealed that glycerol films have better overall properties compared to films made with maltitol and invert sugar; and was selected for other studies conducted. The supplementation of starch-based films with leaves powder or essential oils from E. camaldulensis and A. indica did not alter thermal, chemical, and water vapour transmission rates of cassava and cassava peel starch-based films. The supplementation of cassava peel starch-based films with essential oils from A. indica and E. camaldulensis oil prevented the deterioration of strawberries (33.3% and 66.7%), cherry tomatoes (66.7% and 100%) and lettuce (66.7%) significantly compared to unpackaged fruits and vegetables. Also, cassava peel starch-based films supplemented with A. indica and E. camaldulensis oils prevented the loss of total soluble contents in cherry tomatoes (70.3% and 89.2%) and weight loss in strawberries (60.3% and 64.2%) significantly. All starch-based films produced in this study degraded within 10 days under soil at ~30oC.
Conclusion: This study revealed the potential utility of starch extracted from agricultural wastes in producing food packaging materials and encourages further exploration of biodegradable films developed in this thesis for application as food packaging materials
Advancing legal education: integrating space law into postgraduate curricula in international governance and commercial law
No full text© 2025 The Author. Published by School of Law Queen's University of Belfast. This is an open access article which can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://ejlt.org/index.php/ejlt/article/view/1073Space law, in its current form, is still largely rooted in Cold War-era assumptions, and yet the realities of space activity today could hardly be more different. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty remains the primary legal scaffold, but its focus on state actors leaves considerable ambiguity where commercial and non-state activities are concerned. That gap has become increasingly problematic as private ventures, from small satellite constellations to lunar mining initiatives, have reshaped the landscape. This paper makes the case for integrating space law as a distinct and serious component of postgraduate legal curricula, particularly in courses concerned with international governance and commercial regulation. Without this shift, it is difficult to see how future legal practitioners will be prepared to respond to the growing regulatory complexities in this field. Through examining recent developments and legal trends, this paper highlights why and how legal education should adapt, while exploring the institutional and pedagogical challenges such integration might raise
Infant mortality is rising in the UK - reducing modifiable risks can help reverse reverse the trend
Get PDFThis is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published by the BMJ on 22/05/2025, available online: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.r1053
The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version.Public health support focused on reducing risks of infant mortality is needed for vulnerable families, especially those with preterm babies, write Tilly Pillay, Kelvin Dawson, and Mike Trenell.Published versio